Shaft for golf clubs and the like



A. E. LARD.

SHAFT FOR GOLF CLUBS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION man sin 15. :921.

1,4,202 Pameafmg. 15, 1922.

f" 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

` invento/n .Wilma E .L ara? A. E. LARD.

SHAFT FOR GOLF CLUBS AND THE LIKE.

' APPLICATION man SEPT-,15. 1921.

Patenfed Aug. 15, 19262;

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ALLAN E. LARD, 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT' 0F COLUMBI, ASSIGNOR TO THEMETALLIC SHAFT COMPANY,' 0F WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, Av CORPORA- TION 0FDELAWARE.

SHAFT FOR GOLF CLUBS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patnted Aug. 15, 19220 Applicationfiled September 15, 1921.' Serial No. 500,792.

T0 all lwhom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLAN E. LARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at `Vasliington, District of Columbia, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Shafts for GolfCluhs and the like, ofwhich the following yis a specification.

This invention pertains to shafts designed primarily for use inconnection with golf clubs, though certain features thereof, as will behereinafter pointed out, are applicable to other tools or instruments.

The main object of the invention is to provide a laminated golf shaftwherein sections are employed with a core, which sections and corereadily lend themselves to the proper alinement and permanent lockingand anchoring of the laminations on the core, the construction beingsuch as to iinpart to the shaft great strength and stiffness with aminimum of weight, these features being of prime importance in shaftsfor golf clubs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a core that willaccomplish the aforementioned objects and at thel same time impart tothe shaft greater torsional resistance than is possible with theordinary hexagonal core of the split bamboo fishing rod construction. Itis a well known fact to the masters in the game of golf that a certainamount of resilient torsion is a fundamental necessity in a shaft, buttoo much torsion impairs both power and direction of the shot. This isclearly indicated in ordinary hickory shafts which are'soft or have,from continued use, developed an excessive amount of torsion.

A still further object of the invention is to provide firstclass shaftsfrom cores of wood other than hickory and also to render vavailableshort lengths of hickory which would` in longer lengths, be useless forgolf shafts because of defects or warpage. Even soft hickory of the mostinferior grades can thus be converted into irst class shafts. l

of hickory, as outlined in the report ofthe U. S. AgriculturalDepartment dated June 1, 1920, wherein it is stated that,

The demand for hickory handles is so great that manufacturers can nolonger meet requirements and that- The end of hickory is in sight.

The fundamental or underlying feature of the invention lends itself tomany embodiments, various of which are shown in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein,-

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a complete golf club with the lower end of thehandle shown Y in longitudinal section;

Fig. 2 an enlarged detailed view of the 65 handle anu the tapering upperportion of the core which is socketed into the handle;

Fig. 3 a detailed sectional perspective view of .the upper portion ofthe shaft;

Fig. 4 a detailed perspective View of the 70 lower portion of the shaft;

Fig. 5a perspective view of one of thev 'i inserts or laminationsimposed upon the core;

on the line VI-VI of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 a longitudinal sectional view of the upper portion of the shaft;

. Fig. 8 a sectional elevation showing a slight modification in the formof the handle.

,F ig. 9 a transverse sectional view showing a slight modification inthe exterior form of the shaft;

Fig. 1() a side elevation of a shaft wherein 85 the core extendsthroughout the full lengthof the shaft, no separate handle `loeingeinployed;

Fig. 11 a transverse sectional view on the line XI-XI of Fig. 10';

Fig. 12 a perspective view of the upper end of the core, showing asection of bamboo or the like in position between a pair of the ribsformed upon the core;

Fig. 13 a similar view of the lower end of 05 the core;

Fig. 14 a sectional elevation of a further modified form of the shaft;

Fig. 15 a transverse sectional viewitaken .on the line XV--XV of Fig.14;

Fig. 16 a perspective view of the lower portion of a laminated shaft andthe club head employed in conjunction therewith;

Fig. 17 a perspective view of the lower end of one of the outer elementsimposed upon the core; and

Figs. 18 to 24 inclusive cross sectional views of various shaftsillustrating various other modifications of my invention wherein aninterlock is formed between the core and the inserts or laminations.

Referring first to the construction shown in F igs. 1 to 7 inclusive, 1denotes the core formed of hickory or otherwood or ma terial, which, aswill be noted, is provided with a series'of radially disposed invertedV-shaped ribs 2, forming between each pair of ribs V-shaped channels orgrooves 3. rlhe body of the shaft tapers down from the upper to thelower end, both as to its central core and as to the height of the'ribswhich extend outwardly therefrom. rllhere is thus produced upon theexterior of theI core a series of longitudinally extending channelswhich are wider and deeper at their upper ends than they are at theirlower ends, and the lower endI ofthe shaft which is to be inserted intothe hosel 4 of the head 5, be it an iron as shown in Fig. 1, or into ithe socket formed in the head of a wooden club, is turned down ortapered so that it may be driven firmly to place. Mounted and cementedwithin each ofthe channels or grooves is a filler strip 6 perfectlyfitted and formed of suitable material, such, for instance, as bamboo,whalebone, or any other material which will impart to the shaft thedesired and required rigidity, while at the same time imparting strengthto the shaft to the desired degree. These inserts, as

shown in Fig. 5, are substantially triangular in cross section and sotapered as to conform to the channels in' which they-are seated so thatwhen finally positioned the exterior face lies flush withthe outer edgeof the adjacent ribs 2. When the filler strips are produced from bamboothe bamboo sections "will be so cut as to leave the natural highlyglazed or skin surface outermost, thus re taining the benefits of suchglazed surface in the prevention of the ingress of moisture.

The inserts, as will be seen upon'reference `to Fig. 4, extenddownwardly at their lower ends well toward the extreme lower end of thecore or body of the shaft so that such ends will be embraced by thehosel or by the wall of the socket when the shaft is driven home. Theupper ends of the inserts will be shouldered, as at 7, (Figs. 3 and 5)and will be embraced by the wall of the tapered socket 8 formed in thehandle 9 adapted to be driven over the upper correspondingly tapered end10 formed upon the core. Any

curing the insert strips in place, a wooden peg or screw, as 12, (seeFig. 7) may be driven into a hole formed in the insert and in the bodyof the core.

The handle 9 may, of course, be omitted. and the core and laminationsextended the full length, as in Fig. 10. A

lt is found in actual practice that a golf shaft constructed in themanner above set forth is highly efficient and possessesthe requisiteweight and strength together with the requisite whip and torsion.

ln Fig. 9 a shaft circular in cross section is illustrated wherein theoutercurvature of the bamboo inserts, denoted by 13, is maintainedpractically intact, which, of course, substantially maintains the skinsurface of the bamboo strip, insuring great strength, stiffness andlightness.

ln Fig. -8 a slight modification of the handle structure is sho-Wn,wherein the upper end is counterbored, as'at '14, to lightenthe same. ltis to be understood that the handle section may be formed of anysuitable material, and l have found that ash is highly satisfactory.

ln Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive a still further modification is shown. lnthis instance the core 15 does not taper and extends the full length ofthe shaft and is provided with a series of outwardly extending ribs 16,the ribs in this instance being of the same thickness throughout and arespaced apart at the inner portions where they merge into the core. Theinserts,.denoted by 17, are so shaped as to fully fill the channelsformed between the ribs, the inserts being secured in position bysuitable cement or adhesive and by the pin or screw construction abovedescribed. i

ln Fig. 13 the lower portions of the ribs and the lower end of the coreare turned down to form a tapered end to insure proper fit within thehosel or socket in the head of the club.

In Fig. 14 a still further modification is I shown, wherein the core,denoted by 18, is

grooved out form channels for the receptlon of the inserts 19, thegrooves at their upper ends extending outwardly and running into theouter face'ofthe core so as to produce a handle section 20 which isintegral withfthe core and formed as an up` ward extension thereof. Tolighten the handle it maybe bored out, as at 21.

In Figs 16 and l17 a further modification is shown wherein the core 20at the 'cwer end where it enters the neck of the iron head is polygonalin cross section and there is imposed upon the outer faces thereof aseries of strips 21, the lower ends of which take the form best shown inFig. 17, that is to say, they have a shouldered enlargeuse in connectionwith a metallic headed tapered portion 25 of the core.

club, the hosel 24 whereof is polygonal in cross section and adapted tomake a close lit with the polygonal form produced by the extensions 23which surround the lower By this arrangement twisting of the head uponthe shaft is prevented and the twisting stress, in case of shrinkage, isagainst the flat sides instead of the usual pin, which pin in bambooleads to splitting of the shaft. The pin is, however, utilized lowerdown to prevent the head from flying off.

The polygonal hosel may, of course, be attached to thel polygonal ribbedshaft, as shown in Fig. 4, and the strip shouldered, in Fig. 17.

It is conceivable that the core and the ribs extending therefrom may beso produced or shaped as to form recesses which will interlock with theinserts which are placed in the recesses or channels, and in igs. 1'8 to24 inclusive various forms or arrangements embodying this fundamentalfeature are disclosed. In said figures the core is denoted by 26, theribs by 27 and the inserts by 28. It is not thought necessary that adetailed description of each of these modifications be given as it isapparent from an inspection thereof that each pair of ribs cooperateswith an insert piece forming an interlock therewith to preventseparation. For the sake of clearness cross sectional lines have beenomitted from these views. Under these constructions some of the insertpieces 28 may be placedfin position by springing the ribs laterally andthe final insert strip or strips driven 'in end- Wise thereby producinga wedging action which will cause a close adherence between the variousribs and the embraced inserts.

Under all of the constructions illustrated, it will be noted that I haveproduced a laminated structure whereby I am enabled to employ a coreformed of an inferior grade of material which isstrengthened andstiffened by superior material laminated therewith, which laminatedstructure imparts to the shaft great strength and stiffness with aminimum of Weight.

The structure shown in Figs. 16 and 17, in so far as the polygonal formof the hosel and shaft end are concerned, may be employed to advantagein tools other than golf shafts.

Furthermore, it will be understood that the shaft may be Whipped orwrapped at intervals, if so desired.

The groove in Fig. 1l may, of course, be V-shaped. The diameter of thecore is governed by the width of the ribs.

l l. A tapered shaft for golf clubs comprising a core having a series ofV-shaped channels extending longitudinally thereof, said channelsnarrowing in width and depth toward the lower end of the shaft; and ailller strip secured Within each of said channe s.

2. A shaft for golf. clubs comprising a core formed of wood having aseries of V- shaped channels extending longitudinally thereof, saidchannels narrowing in Width and depth toward the lower end o f theshaft; and a filler strip formed from bamboo secured Within each of saidchannels, the outer face of each strip presenting t-he natural l skinsurface of the bamboo growth.

3. In a golf club, the combination of a shaft comprising a core formedof wood and a plurality of strengthening members laminated thereon; anda handle socketed on the shaft, said handle overlappingf the upper endsof the strengthening members.

4. In a golf club, -the combination of a shaft comprising a core formedof wood and a plurality of strengthening members "imposed thereon andextending longitudinally thereof; a handle secured to one end of theshaft; and a head secured to the opposite end, said handle and headoverlapping the adjacent ends of the strengthening members.

5. In a golf club, the combination of a shaft comprising a core,formed'of wood and a plurality of strengthening members imposed thereonand extending longitudinally thereof, the lower end being given apolyg-l onal form in cross section; and a head having a hosel the socketwhereof is polygonal in form, adapted to receive said polygonal lowerend and to embrace the lower ends of the strengthening members.

6. In a golf club, the combination of a shaft comprising a core formedof wood having atapered upper end, and a tapered lower y end, with aseries of V-shaped grooves exin Width and depth toward the lower end of.the shaft; a series of filler strips secured within and filling saidgrooves; a socketed handle secured upon the upper tapered end of thecore and embracing the adjacent ends ofthe filler strips; and a headsecured upon the `lower tapered end and embracing the lower ends of thefiller strips.

7. A golf shaft comprising a tapered channeled core formed of wood and aplurality of strips secured within the channels and extending lengthwisethereof.

.8. In a golf club, the combination 'of a shaft comprising a channeledcore formed of wood, and a plurality of strengthening members secured inthe channels and extending longitudinally thereof, the shaft adjacentits lower end being given a polygonal form in cross section; and a headhaving a hosel, the socket whereof, at least'at its upper portion,

is polygonal in form, adapted to receive said. po ygonal lower portionand to embrace the lower ends of the strengthening members.

9. ln a golf club, they combination of a shaft composed of a pluralityof sections extending longitudinally thereof, the lower end being iven apolygonal form in cross section; ang a head having a hosel, the upperportion atleast of the socket formed in the hosel being polygonal inform and adapted to receive'and register with said polygonal lowerportion of the shaft.-

A golf shaft comprising a core formed of Wood and extendingsubstantially throughout the length of the shaft, said core groovesformed in" its face and extending substantially throughout the length otthe coreg. and a liller strip for each groove secured therein.

12. A golf shaft comprising a core formed of wood, said core having a'series of spaced ribs formed upon its exterior surface and producinggrooves therebetween, the walls oi' each groove converging towardthecenter oi' the core; and a series of wedge shaped strips, one for eachgroove fitted and secured within said grooves.

13. A golf shaft comprising a corel formed of wood7 and having a seriesof ribs formed thereon and extending longitudinally thereof, the wallsof each rib standing in substantial parallelism whereby a series ofsubstantially il-shaped grooves will be formed be` tween the ribs; and aiiller strip secured within and filling each of said grooves.

ln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification.

ALLAN E. LARD.

